Frankie Boyle, the comedian, has called on the BBC to sack Jeremy Clarkson

He is one of the most controversial comedians in Britain today, but even Frankie Boyle has called on the BBC to sack Jeremy Clarkson.

Boyle, who has been censured for a range of provocative jokes, said Clarkson was only tolerated by television executives because he was part of the establishment, despite his outspoken moments.

Clarkson, who has been criticised in two separate race rows on Top Gear, has so far been supported by the BBC, although head of television Danny Cohen this week warned he was not "untouchable".

Speaking at the Edinburgh International Television Festival, as part of an on-stage interview, Boyle has now argued Clarkson is only tolerated because he "knows people in power".

Comparing his own controversial jokes to the remarks of Clarkson, which include appearing to say n----- while reciting a nursery rhyme and calling an Asian man a "slope" during a Top Gear Burma special, Boyle called the BBC presenter a "cultural tumour".

When asked what he would do, if he was in control at the BBC, he said: "Sack him. Because he's a cultural tumour, you know.

"He comes from a very bad place and the reason he's tolerated is because he's recognised by people in power; they know people like Clarkson.

"In fact, he knows Cameron, he's a friend of Cameron. He's in there like a f----- growth and he should be removed because he's horrible."

He added: "Clarkson is like that for a certain reason, he's come from a certain background. He's taught to not empathise. His worst traits are encouraged."

On the subject of why Clarkson had been defended while he had been criticised by the BBC Trust for his material, he claimed executives steered away from jokes about current affairs which had "content".

Speaking at the same festival, Danny Cohen, the director of BBC television, emphasised that Clarkson was not "untouchable", saying no-one was more important than the corporation.

Saying Clarkson still believed the BBC had overreacted to criticism of Top Gear, Cohen added: "I was very, very clear in public and in private that I was incredibly unhappy with his language.

"I have made that really clear. Jeremy knows that's my position andthat's going to impact on the way the show is thought about in the future."

Boyle also criticised television commissioners for failing to take proper risks on comedy and satire, likening UK television entertainment output to that of a "cruise ship".